Vitali Klitschko: Heavyweight champion swaps boxing for politics

World heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has given up his WBC title and says he is unlikely to fight again because he is focusing on politics.

The World Boxing Council has made him a "champion emeritus", which would allow him to directly challenge a new champion if he wants to resume boxing.

But the 42-year-old, who is a Ukrainian opposition leader, said: "That is something I currently cannot imagine.

"My focus is on politics in Ukraine and I feel the people there need me."

Klitschko beat Herbie Hide to win the WBO world heavyweight title in London in 1999

Massive crowds have demonstrated for weeks in Kiev against President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to shun closer ties with the European Union and Klitschko, who is very pro-EU and plans to run for president in 2015, has been prominent in the protests.